Tag Archives: cat expressions

The Cat’s Paw: Wherever Has It Been?

A cat’s paw is an elusive phenomenon even though it is clearly attached to the animal in question. If you don’t believe me, when you have some time to kill, just try and follow the path of the paw in the course of any given day. A shovel for unsuspecting toys, litter and other objects infecting territory, a shield for the eyes from too much sunlight, the paw is a cat’s most ubiquitous tool. But when did it become known as an unpleasant or distasteful task or to be used for the advantage of another as the usage of the … Continue reading →

A Cat Has Nine Lives; Can We Borrow A Few?

Even if you believe in karma and reincarnation, to come back nine times is stretching anyone’s luck quite a bit. Of course, part of the idea is that we come back until we GET IT RIGHT, but still the rule doesn’t seem to apply to felines. Cats maintain their cool in whatever skin they possess at the time, and we humans could learn a lot from them, particularly about relaxing, establishing relaxing priorities and well, relaxing some more. Where did this idiomatic expression come from and what does it really mean? Generally speaking, the phrase has to do with the … Continue reading →

There’s More Than One Way To Skin A Cat: Ugh!

Does this idiomatic expression have anything to do with the cat having nine lives? After all, to lose one’s skin is a serious proposition and difficult to recover from even if we are dealing with a creature as resourceful and intelligent as a cat. But where did this expression come from and how is it related to of all things, the world of cooking? The expression, which has come to mean that there is more than one way to accomplish a task, has its roots in seafood cuisine preparation. It is not known exactly how old it is, but it … Continue reading →

Cat Got Your Tongue? Nasty Thought

As we consider the cat’s place in our modern language (for we already know where they stand in our hearts), we become increasingly aware of odd phrases and expressions that surely came down to us from somewhere. Unlike other types of hand-me-downs, some of these metaphors are more obscure than others, and in this case, its exact origins may never be known. Why are you not talking? Have you nothing to say? That is what “cat got your tongue?” has come to mean in modern usage. Although none agree as to where it came from, most historians of the written … Continue reading →

To Let the Cat Out of The Bag

This old saying does seem kind of odd at first glance, and yet it is an expression most of us say very often. But what does it mean? It would appear to be a bit out of context, as cats love to get into bags, as we all know. Not only that, they love to hide in bags even though it is hardly a secret that they are there, as usually their tails, backsides and or paws are hanging out from the open side. Where did this expression come from? To “let the cat out of the bag” or give … Continue reading →

The Cat In Proverb and Thought

The cat down through the ages has been ubiquitous in our literature, poetry and culture. Perhaps as a symbol there is nowhere it appears more often than in our everyday proverbs and expressions. Take for example, the phrase “to play cat and mouse.” Where did it come from and has its meaning changed through the passage of time? The torture of the poor little mouse at the hands of its oppressor, the much larger feline, is one of nature’s crueler struggles. It is a very democratic one, however, as there can be little doubt that everyone’s mind conjures the same … Continue reading →